KENPO GIRL

​It’s a historical fact that martial arts practitioners have always been dominantly male.

Even though there has recently been an influx in popularity with female practitioners in many different styles and systems, there is still a prejudice associated against women in Martial Arts. Over the years, women have had to fight—literally—for respect in the Martial Arts community. ​ Yet, one of the hurdles that some female practitioners are having to overcome is called “Female Cannibalism”.​

“Female Cannibalism” is a new age term being used to describe female on female aggression and bullying.

Sorry but you can't have an article about "cannibalism" without featuring the good Doctor.

​An unfortunately common phenomenon becoming associated in martial arts were a female student could use demeaning and abusive tactics to either belittle another female student into a submissive state or even drive them from the Dojo. The tactics of social media bullying, gossiping, slander and sometimes physical aggression can become lethal to a student’s study.

​After centuries of women fighting for a status in martial arts, it is almost ironic that we would become our own final obstacle. ​

It’s an issue that some female martial artists are having to deal with on top of their training. It sadly can be isolating students and doing the opposite to overcome the sexism associated sometimes with martial arts.​

One system associated with such secrecy and exclusion is Lua. Lua is an Ancient Hawaiian Martial Art which employs a style of hand-to-hand fighting and grappling, while also wielding staffs, daggers, slings and other weapons used to either strangle or dislocate limbs. The most famous weapon associated with the art is shark-tooth clubs—clubs lined with razor sharp shark teeth.

​Lua has traditionally been limited to only full-blooded Hawaiian males.

It wasn’t until the 1950’s that some Masters of the art began accepting students outside of their traditional requisite. One of the pioneers behind this shift is Olohe Solomon Kaihewalu. He began bringing Lua to the Mainland in 1950, but his teaching non-Hawaiian males wasn’t the only controversy. He also had female students into the 1980's, but only one remains.

Michelle Manu and her instructor Olohe Solomon Kaihewalu

Michelle Manu began training in Lua in the 1990's under Olohe. Even though Olohe was changing the face of Lua already, he still had hesitations about training Michelle. This was considered what the Hawaiians call a kapu or a forbidden ban associated with an ancient Hawaiian code of conduct.

At first, Michelle had a difficult time just getting Olohe to speak with her on the phone and allowing her to watch a class, let alone training her. Michelle explained,“For the first 8 years he tried to get me to voluntarily quit… Olohe gave me a chance and I endured.”

Michelle’s tenacity paid off. ​She is now the only authorized female instructor also known as a Kumu, trained by and as a first generation Kumu of Olohe. ​

​This title didn’t come at no price. ​Olohe has received multiple death threats over the years due to Olohe’s progressive teaching that violates the traditional kapus, which were traditionally punishable by death.​

The most perplexing part of women being excluded from martial arts especially Lua, is women can be the ones in need martial arts the most. Michelle commented, “Being a mixed woman from the Mainland would disqualify me from Lua training but there were times that women had to know the Lua in ancient times.”

Olohe attributes some of his training to his mother,“The women were the ones who protected the land, family/children and at times made weapons while the men were gone.”​

​The women’s day to day chores would mimic Lua practice

Almost every woman learned hula dancing when they were young which would demonstrate hand-to-hand combat techniques. Michelle is a Kumu and a professional Hula Dancer.

​Michelle explains,“I want to take that ‘girl activity’ and transform it into the energy flow and explosions of timed power to show women how very powerful we can be.”

​Lua might have been declared a dead art in 1970, Michelle continues to fight not only for her art, but for herself and other women. “Female Cannibalism” is one of the topics she’s most passionate speaking about and empowering women with the tools to combat this epidemic.I had the pleasure of sitting and discussing with Michelle, many of the different theories on how this behavior begins or manifests amongst female associates. The theories range from jealousy to a lack of female matriarchs to help guide young females—or it even being female nature.

Michelle’s theory is, “The woman that feels jealous or threatened by another woman lets her insecurities get the best of her. Whether it is age, beauty, brains, better technique, fluid forms, higher rank or more expensive handbag, something snaps and switches internally. In that instant, she declares war and destruction upon her target of the moment.”​

The truth is I believe it’s a mixture of all of them.

Young female practitioners in an unhealthy state of mind that is natural of female nature and missing a matriarch presence to guide them through it. Either way, we as martial artists must remember our training is equal parts physical and mental. When we train, we are reminded that outside of the dojo we cannot choose who our attackers are and how they may attack us and we should prepare for any attack.Should preparing ourselves for a mental attack be no different?

Michelle’s advice on countering female cannibalism is thus, “I say that life is a martial arts technique. You have a choice in how you respond. Do you just stand there, freeze and get pummeled? Will you choose to get out of the way and perry block. Or, will you move, perry, and counter? In the instances of Female Cannibalism, we have options. Take it, say nothing, and endure the attack; Maneuver gracefully and kick it up a notch while ignoring but aware; or call the insecure woman out on the mat? Each bully and instance is different. Each takes care, feminine finesse, and timing. Each takes being wholly connected to yourself and what your inner woman says is right for you to be and do in each situation. Trust yourself and never apologize for who you are and for working towards being a better you. Be aware though. While being attacked, it is common to want to destroy the bully in return. I've been there and had to put myself in a submission hold. Less noise and collateral damage is always better when dealing with unpleasantness. Be lovingly firm while never tolerating poor behaviors of others.”

We are the ones with the power to choose if this mental attack will or will not affect us. ​

​As Martial Artists, we are taught to confront threats but perhaps our greatest weapon may become empathy. Especially if our attacker is our fellow Martial Arts sisters. In this case, it’s not about countering and attacking but remembering another reason we take Martial Arts....​

Excellent read Ms. Jesa as always. Ur informative articles are a necessity to educate us all in the different Arts that we all love to study. Ur insights and interviews are a great source for not only me but everyone else that's always looking to learn. Thank you again for ur hard work and ur constant fairness regarding all systems.

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Jesalyn Mae Harper

Hello my name is Jesalyn. I'm a divorced single mom and a karate addict...I am currently a 1st Brown belt in American Kenpo and a Junior Instructor at Double Dragon Kenpo Karate under JR Diaz, I am part of the Parker/Planas Lineage and study Karbaroan Eskrima with JR Diaz, under Guro Ed Planas